Europe 2018

April - July 2018

A 84-day adventure by Lou and Col Read more

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- Apr 18, 2018
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 25 m
- South Africa Province of the Western Cape Knysna Knysna Harbour -34.03356, 23.0464134°2’1” S 23°2’47” E
Day 10
Knysna Day 3
April 18, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Today we put the car away and went for a walk down the hill into Knysna Town. Visited the old gaol museum and Thesen Island.
The museum had a very good display of the old history of the area. On the way we met a Norwegian couple staying at the B&B whose ancestors were the original owners of the mansion.
Had a nice lunch inluding local oysters at 34 South restaurant and then did the long walk back up the hill to home.
After a rest we took the car for a spin over to Brenton on Sea. Great views back over the harbour to town.Read more
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- Apr 19, 2018
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 228 m
- South Africa Province of the Western Cape Langeberg Montagu -33.78588, 20.1215333°47’9” S 20°7’18” E
Day 11
Drive to Montagu
April 19, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
After another lovely breakfast we packed up and hit the road to Cape Town. Taking the longer scenic route, our overnight stop was at the town of Montagu. This is a great drive if you can avoid the crazy drivers and overloaded trucks on the road. We stayed at Airlies B&B in Montagu where we were the only guests and had the whole place to ourselves. Dinner was at the Montagu Hotel which was of art deco design throughout including all the furniture. Unfortunately the food was pretty ordinary.Read more
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- Apr 20, 2018
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 32 m
- South Africa Province of the Western Cape City of Cape Town De Waterkant Green Point Stadium -33.90984, 18.4049433°54’35” S 18°24’18” E
Day 12
Drive to Cape Town
April 20, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
After breakfast we hit the road again for the last 180km into Cape Town.
Stopped at a little town for a nice lunch. The road into Cape Town is spectacular as it winds through rocky mountains with vineyards in the valleys between. The GPS took us neatly to our new B&B Braeside Manor in Green Point.
After checking in to another delightful room we dropped the car off at Budget in town then walked back to the B&B.
Finished off the day walking up to Grimbsby Tce to try and find where Louise's great great grandmother, Magdalena Allen lived in the 19 th century. Found a possibilty but cannot be sure as the numbers have changed. It was a terrace house though and the right street.Read more
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- Apr 21, 2018
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- South Africa Province of the Western Cape City of Cape Town An-de-Waterkant Houtbaairivier -34.04641, 18.3489834°2’47” S 18°20’56” E
Day 13
Cape Town Day 1
April 21, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Breakfast was followed by a walk down to the V&A Waterfront to catch the tourist hop on off bus. First stop was in the city where we visted St Georges Cathedral where Hamilton Ross was meant to have a commerative plaque. We could not find it. Then a walk up through the Company Gardens to the Mount Nelson Hotel which is on the site of a property owned by Hamilton Ross.
Back on the bus we travelled to Hout Bay. This is a fishing port and tourist spot out of the city. Had a great lunch there entertained by the resident seals and then on to Camps Bay where we joined the trendies for a seaside promenade. It's a wonderful cliff drive but a bit close to the edge for my(Lou) liking. Finally back to home for an early night.Read more
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- Apr 22, 2018
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 146 m
- South Africa Province of the Western Cape City of Cape Town Bishopscourt Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens -33.98708, 18.431233°59’13” S 18°25’52” E
Day 14
Cape Town Day 2
April 22, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
The travel has started to catch up to us so we had a sleep in and a slow start to the day. After breakfast we Ubered down to the bus and went out to the Kirstenbosch botanical gardens. These are the best gardens we have ever seen,an absolute delight. We Ubered back to the V&A via the San Souci girls school which was the Hamilton Ross estate and where he died . It is in a very lovely part of Cape Town, leafy and elegant homes all with a beautiful mountain backdrop. What a place this is!!!. Picked up some dinner then an early night.Read more
Traveler Hi. Just got your invite to see your trip. It is fantastic. Keep it going. The safari looked amazing. You have seen and done a lot fabulous things in such a small time xx
4/23/18Reply
Traveler Hi Col & Lou, I have also just received your invitation - great photos and story with them - keep it up and will look forward to seeing more photos love Sue & John
4/23/18Reply
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- Apr 23, 2018
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 32 m
- South Africa Province of the Western Cape City of Cape Town De Waterkant Green Point Stadium -33.90976, 18.4049733°54’35” S 18°24’18” E
Day 15
Catching the Queen
April 23, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Today we join the ship to England.
Up early for a nice breakfast then packing to get out of the room.
Taking the opportunity to catch up on the blog while we wait to go to the ship. Not much of a day for wandering around outside, a bit damp. Last night we woke up around 1am and checked the QE position on the seascanner. She was just rounding the Cape of Good Hope. We could hear the foghorns from the harbour-they blow all night while there is fog. It was so amazing to think of all the shipping that has passed these waters, including Great great great grandfather Richard Hamilton Allen who skippered the Hamilton Ross sailing ship and was also the North Wharf master here in Cape Town. Quite a wonderful realization.
Ship boarding was straight forward and well organised. On board and in our cabin by 3pm. Verrry comfortable. Found the restaurant for a late lunch then off to the laundrette to do a couple of loads of washing.
A late dinner at the buffet then off to bed. No fun and games tonight.Read more
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- Apr 24, 2018
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- South Africa Province of the Western Cape City of Cape Town Roggebaai Duncan Dock -33.91268, 18.4294933°54’46” S 18°25’46” E
Day 16
The Queen Day 2 Departing Cape Town
April 24, 2018 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Our first day on the Queen is in Cape Town port. After a good nights sleep in a very comfortable bed, we headed off to breakfast and then off the ship into town. Our objective was to meet people from the Iziko Museum to have a look at some Hamilton Ross items in Bertram House.
Back to the V&A for some last minute shopping then bus to the cruise terminal, clear immigration and on board and ready to leave. Lifeboat drill at 4:30 then the ship is easing out from the dock. A quick race up stairs to watch Cape Town and the mountains behind slowly leave us behind. A great sight to see!!
Dinner in the Lido Buffet, a quick quiz game in the English Pup bar then off to sleep.
Disappointed that the Hamilton Ross paintings have been removed from Bertram House. The lady who showed us around though has given me her contact details and I will be able to get a digital copy once they have been retrieved from archives. I get the feeling historical records are being mismanaged a bit in SA.
It was wonderful though to leave Cape Town by ship knowing that our Great great grandfather had done the same as crew and Captain of his own vessels. Looking back towards Table Mountain and Signal Hill it is truly a moving and beautiful view. So many sailors must have marvelled at it's uniqueness before heading either east or west into the great oceans. How brave and amazing they were. I of coarse disgraced myself by feeling queasy within a few hours.Read more
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- Apr 25, 2018
- ☀️ 13 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- South Atlantic Ocean -28.20167, 15.3683328°12’6” S 15°22’6” E
Day 17
The Queen Day 3 At Sea
April 25, 2018, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Started the day with breakfast in bed (decadent I know, but why not).
Attended Anzac commemorisation at 9. Very moving and well done by the captain and crew.
Tried our hand at the table tennis comp, but out of practise and did not last long. A good first effort though.
A quiet afternoon of rest before a quick hit of table tennis then dressing for dinner.
Our first attendance at the formal Brittania Restaurant. Were expecting to make up a table of 6 but we were the only ones at the table. The others must have gone to the buffet. Will have to try again. Food was very nice.
After dinner watched a bit of the old time dancers in the main lounge then checked out the show in the main theatre. A couple of acrobats who had hung around too long and were a bit past their prime. We took the first opportunity to exit stage left.Read more
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- Apr 26, 2018
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Namibia Erongo Kuisebmond -22.93276, 14.5122822°55’58” S 14°30’44” E
Day 18
The Queen Day 4 Walvis Bay
April 26, 2018 in Namibia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Woke up to find the ship already docked at Walvis Bay, Namibia. We had a tour booked so breakfast in the room then downstairs to immigration and catch the bus.
Bus full of the usual old fogeys and then we were off on the trip. First stop was the lagoon where we saw flocks of flamingos in the shallow water of the bay. This was a fabulous sight and the lagoon is recognized as an important sanctuary for many birds.
Next stop was Dune 7 which is supposed to be the highest sand dune in Southern Africa. Quite impressive especially the sharp contrast of the orange dune against a very azure sky. Following was a long bumpy ride out to see some rare flora that exists in the desert then on to an area which looks like a moonscape and is quite ancient and definately out of this world. Route home was a bit shorter and through Swapokmund and along the coast. More Namib Desert right up to the sea. Wind was blowing up as we headed back and the desert dust was blowing in. All a bit surreal. Overall impression of Walvis Bay area is one of extremes. How people live and function in such an inhospitable environment is a mystery. The dust storms would be reason enough to leave town.
Glad to get back on the boat for a sense of sanctuary. Kept the balcony door shut to avoid the dust and never more grateful for a shower. Tea at the Lido again. Checked out the theatre where Mark Donoghue was playing. A full house but not to our taste. Departure delayed 2.5 hours due to the wind which meant that the ship couldn't safely negotiate the channel. Back to the room for a nightcap, a bit of T V and bed.Read more
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- Apr 27, 2018
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- South Atlantic Ocean -19.45, 10.7266719°27’0” S 10°43’36” E
Day 19
The Queen Day 5 At Sea
April 27, 2018, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Our first day of 8 at sea before Tenerrife. After breakfast a couple of laps of the deck. Then on to the theatre to hear the celebrity lecturer, John McCarthy. This first part of his story of capture by Hezbollah was both fascinating and engrossing. Cannot wait for the next installment on Monday. Went on to dance classes next where we attempted to relearn the slow waltz. Quite good fun, but a way to go to be as good as some of the oldies on the ship. Squeezed a coulple of games of table tennis in before lunch. After lunch had a go at the Guess the Melody quiz. It was TV show themes which was not our forte. But we got 11 out of 20. Quiet afternoon of reading and a couple of laps of the deck before dinner. Black & White Ball formal night is the go but we will not be attending as we did not bring the penguin suits.
Dinner at the Lido. Had a wander around the ship and a walk around the deck before hitting the sack. Must say the bed and shower in our cabin are fantastic and we have both slept well. I think the sea air is making us tired, especially with a full tummy. Temperature is rising each day as we approach the equator and their are many Bubbles and Desirees gracing the pool deck. We haven't had a dip yet but maybe will later in the afternoon one day. Sun protection is not an issue for some folk on board and you wonder why not!!Read more
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